Congratulations!, It's nice to hear that Duncan did so well, love the prizes!

Duncan is making a bit of noise here.


Birgit with the Orange Boy.


Once home Duncan was pleased to get is sword in his hands again.

Nice photos of Duncan and Birgit!!!

About British shows, do all the shows give "stuff" along with ribbons? And I seem to remember something about the judging being slightly different -- the cats are judged in the 'bench' cages, which is why Duncan is sitting in a metal cage with a white floor covering and not a posh cat palace. If you wouldn't mind, could you explain a bit as to how the British shows are run? Please?

Hello everyone,

I am back home now and we had just the most wonderful time !

More pictures will be available once I have them dowloaded.

Now for the show set up:

All cats are in identical pens which are dressed in white, the so called "show whites". White lining, white litterbox, white feeding bowls. That makes the cats all reduced to themselves and not to the pen outfit. Only at the theme shows, like the Supreme at Birmingham, you can dress and decorate your pen according to the show theme which changes every year.

Once you found your pen and have set up your cat with water and litter, done the last grooming excercises, all exhibitors must leave the hall. Then the judges have it all to themselves. They have rolling tables which they bring before each pen and a so called "stewart" brings each cat out of the pen onto the table. Then the judges examine and write their findings down. This takes about three hours, so as an exhibitor, you get some food and go for a walk. When you are back, the judges have written out the first slips which are displayed on the result board (see pictures later). There the winner of each class is named along with second and third place.

When you return to your pen, you will find the ribbons and cards attached to you pen. Then most people give their cats some food as now the public enters to admire the beauties. More and more results of other classes appear and if your cat has won something, you pick up your card and ribbon.
In the meantime you can get tickets for the raffle and play the lottery for a good purpose which we did and won these excentric prices like hair gel.

Some samples of food are given to each participant by cat food companies who sponsor the event.

Also you have of course all sorts of cat related items for sale, toys, food, beds, showing items, grooming items too.

Then the "Best in Show" is chosen by one of the judges. This time it was a final between a red and white persian (drool drool drool) and a Siamese. The showmanager held the microphone to the siamese and it made some clear statements there! But I guess not for that this time the Siamese was chosen Best in Show.

I have to say that Duncan for a first timer did an excellent job. First his little heart was beating quite a bit but in the afternoon, he ate a whole bowl of food and snoozed away.
He will have a great future in the show ring I am sure.

Birgit

Awwww look at him, protesting a little bit, sooo sweet

Jolly good show, Duncan! You must have made Ian so proud of you. You seem to being making your presence known. Be loud and be proud, little fella!

Loved the pictures!!
Duncan looks so sweet!
Thanks for telling us how the shows work over
there Birgit, so different from over here!!

Purrs,
Joan

Duncan, my mate well done on your first show. Soon you'll be a show pro and up there with Uncle Dylan. Hope you share your goodies with the rest of the D's

Birgit -- thanks for the explaination of the show. It really is run totally different than shows here.

Dear friends,

more show pictures are at

http://community.webshots.com/album/582759845gYZzAO


Hope you enjoy!

Birgit